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James White thinks TreVeyon Henderson is a ‘home run pick’ for the Patriots
"And he can pass block too," White said of Henderson. "He was definitely the best pass-blocking back in the country."
James White liked the Patriots’ running back pick: The Patriots‘ 2025 NFL Draft was largely praised by experts, with multiple picks being seen as major roster upgrades. This included the selection of running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round (38th overall).
And on the topic of running backs, few have a better perspective than former New England RB James White. White, now retired, won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. His run included scoring the first ever overtime touchdown in Super Bowl history to complete the remarkable comeback against the Falcons in 2017.
He was a recent guest on NBC Sports Boston’s “Next Pats Podcast,” hosted by Phil Perry. Asked about Henderson, White was thrilled with the pick.
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“This is a home run pick, in my opinion,” he said of Henderson.
While he offered some necessary context about the former Ohio State back — that he performed best when paired with another player in the backfield — White sees Henderson as a dynamic force.
“When the dude was healthy throughout his career, all I could think about was explosive plays. Check-downs, running plays, he can take the ball 50-60 yards,” said White. “So I think this is great. You see them isolate him against linebackers at times, you see him find spots in zones. He runs the football effectively too. I mean I could probably count on two hands the amount of times I’ve seen create explosive plays just last year on screen plays or run plays in big games, big-time moments when the team really needs it most.
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“And he can pass block too,” White added. “He was definitely the best pass-blocking back in the country. He was knocking middle linebackers off their feet. You don’t typically see that from most college backs.”
Henderson totaled 1,300 yards from scrimmage in 2024, averaging an outrageous 7.1 yards per carry as a rusher. Across four seasons at Ohio State, he finished with 48 touchdowns (including 19 as a freshman in 2021).
White noted that with Josh McDaniels back in New England as offensive coordinator, the pick of Henderson hands him (and, by extension, quarterback Drake Maye) a weapon.
“I think this is everything Josh will want in a running back,” White said.
White has experience working under McDaniels, as the two overlapped in New England for years. One thing he became comfortable with — aside from McDaniels’s complicated scheme — was working in tandem with other running backs in the same offense.
This will likely still be the case for Henderson with the Patriots, given the presence of Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, who are already on the team’s roster.
“When I was there, there was like four or five of us getting mixed in at different times,” White pointed out of New England’s backfield depth. “So I still think Josh will do a lot of that too.”
Trivia: TreyVeyon Henderson finished his Ohio State career fourth in career rushing yards in school history. Which Buckeye ranks first on that all-time list?
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(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He is the only player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy twice.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Blue Jays on Thursday, 4-2. Boston begins a three-game series against the Twins at Fenway Park tonight at 7:10 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Boston Fleet host the Minnesota Frost at the Tsongas Center at 1 p.m. in the PWHL regular season finale.
Also on Saturday, the Revolution will play Toronto FC on the road at 4:30 p.m.
And on Monday, the Celtics will play the Knicks at TD Garden in Game 1 of the second-round series.
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- Report: Celtics sale expected to be finalized ‘within the next week or so’
- NBA insider says Celtics’ roster is ‘not sustainable’ and the league is bracing for trades this summer
- After earning a stint with Bruins, Fabian Lysell eyes opportunity for 2025-26 in Boston
- David Ortiz endorsed Michelle Wu in Boston mayoral race
Alex Bregman “was made to wear” a Red Sox uniform: MLB Network’s Mark DeRosa had high praise for the Boston infielder.
On this day: In 2017, Isaiah Thomas scored 53 points in a 129-119 Game 2 Celtics win over the Wizards in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It was an emotional night for Thomas, as it was the birthday of his sister who had recently died in a car crash.
“It felt like somebody was there with me,” Thomas later said of the game. “When I got in the zone later in the game, it felt like I was in the YMCA with my sister when I was a kid.”
Daily highlight: Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker skillfully got the out at first, though the Nationals won 4-2 in the end.
PUT IT ON SPORTSCENTER! pic.twitter.com/vpwmeFxesn
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 1, 2025
Trivia answer: Archie Griffin
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